Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-17
MARY'S OUNCES.

subscriptions" said Mrs. Biggard, fold
inc her mittened hands sanctimonious-
ly upon her lap. Remember, Mary
Hay, 'he who giveth to the poor lendeth
to the Lord'".
eyes, know, Mrs. Biggar9," said
Mary Hay, with the color coming and
going on her cheek, while q sense of
the ridiculous strove within her against
a meek consciousness of the solemnity
of the words Just quoted; ''but the farm
hasn't done as well this year as we ex-
pected, and until all the outstanding
debts are paid l think it would be
scarcely just to indulge myself in the
luxury of subscribing to the Fund for
Evangelizing the Eboe Indians.
Mrs. Biggard clasped the little red
morocco subscription-book with
clicking sound.
'.Humphw said she, 'why don't you
say at once.that you had rather spend
your money in navy-blue silk-gowns
and fashy bonnets?"
Mary Redeemed to the roots of her
hair.
perhaps you are not aware, Mrs.
Biggard, said she, .'that the navy
blue dress was mothers old one dyed
over at home, and that the bonnet
was present from my aunt in Spring.
-''''fFt All very wen to talk" suffered
Mrs. Biggard, shaking out her
multitudinous founces. ''But I know
that Mr.. Mildmay will be powerfully
disappointed. He expects something
besides empty talk from the ladies
of his flock"
00pa mora Tho yOcaata aOlOr S1I ff11ca6
Mary's cheek.
My duty is my duty, she said, land
| cannot swerve from it to please any
one, not even Mr.. Mildmay."
And the amiable Mrs. Biggard went
straight to the rectory and told Mr..
Mildmay .'that Mary Hay said she
warn't a-goin' to subscribe to the
fund to please Mr.. Midway or any one
else"
The rector listened in silence, but
ne was conscious of pang of inward
annoyance.
He had scarcely expected so curt
message from Mary Hay, in whose
dove-ike blue eyes he had so often read
the light of sympathy, whose down
cast head reminded him of the beauti-
full ''Mater Dolorosa.
$50 different from my Ruey, now,
amt she?" said Mrs. Biggard ''Why,
Ruey she's fairly walked through the
soles of a pair O. boots a-solicitin' sub
scriptions for the fund. There never
was nobody so devout as she is And
she wants to know-my Ruey does
whether she and Almiry shant come
over to the rectory an putup the parlor
curtains for you this afternoon?"
''Thank youm said Mr.. Mildmay,
with something of an embarrassed air;
''but | dare say that Bridget will do
well. Iwouldn't trouble Miss Zeruiah,
and"
90, it won't be no trouble at all,
said Mrs. Biggard.
And off she went to give the needful
directions to Zeruiah and Almira, her
two lean middle-aged daughters.
81 do feel such motherly sympathy
for bachelor clergymanr' said she.
''There amt no more helpless creature
on the face of the earth"
While Mary Hay, busy at her work
in the farmhouse kitchen, was puzzlins
her brains, to think of some possible or
impossible plan to get little money
TO help kind Mr.. Mildmay's plan
along.
I wish I could spare something"
she said, ''if it was only dollar"
Il wish you could. my dear!' said
gentle Mrs. Hay, who had overheard
the eager words.
.Mother," cried Mary, ''there are
the quinces-down by the railroad!
Why couldn't sell them at the storeP
The trees hang full this year, and the
fruit is beautifully perfect!'
4 never thought of that" said Mrs.
Hay. Eve will go tomorrow and
gather them, Mary-you and l."
Mary went singing about her work
that afternoon. Her heart was light
as any feather. Why, why had She
not remembered the ounce tree be-
fore? Ounces were rare and high
priced this season, and she thought
she was certain of az least S. for the
crop.
But the next day, when she and her
mother-Mrs. Hay carrying the basket
and Mary trundling the barrow along
before her-went down to the orchard,
whose slopes extended to the glittering